As a devout Christian with a background in theology, I enjoy learning about the biblical perspectives of phenomena like dreams. Recently, a close friend shared that he saw menstrual blood in a dream.
Naturally, I was intrigued. Since I was still in contact with some of my professors from theology school, I reached out to enquire about their thoughts on this topic.
These discussions revealed a lot about the biblical meanings and possible alternative interpretations of menstrual blood in a dream. I also wanted to hear the perspective of a minister of the gospel.
Two pastors in my locality were also happy to shed some light on this topic. I was delighted when a gentleman in my online Christian forum reluctantly asked if it’s normal for men to dream about menstrual blood.
Having thoroughly researched the topic, I was ready to answer his question and numerous other queries about the biblical meaning of menstrual blood in dreams.
While the Bible does not mention menstrual blood in dreams, it does talk about menstruation in several scriptures. Theology scholars suggest that menstrual blood in dreams could be a message from God. On one hand, it could be a sign God will fulfil your desires as He did for Sarah, even though it was a long shot. On the other hand, God could be trying to share His disappointment in something one might have done. An example of this is in the book of Ezekiel 36:17.
In this article, we will discuss what the scriptures say about menstruation. We will also explore the spiritual and biblical meanings of seeing menstrual blood in your dreams.
Keep reading to learn about the symbolism behind menstrual blood in dreams.
What does the Bible say about menstrual blood?
There are several mentions of menstrual blood in the Bible. According to scripture, a woman on her menses is considered ritually unclean.
The same goes for a man who gets intimate with a woman during her period. These views are explained in detail in Leviticus 20:18.
According to this scripture, having intercourse during menstruation was a sin punishable by excommunication among the Israelites.
Leviticus 18:19 says that women could not uncover their bodies during menstruation. Medically speaking, having sex during menstruation exposes you to numerous sexually transmitted diseases.
The Old Testament is quite harsh on matters concerning menstruation. First, everything that came into contact with a menstruating woman was considered impure.
The woman herself would be ritually unclean for seven days after her period. Leviticus 15:22 states that when a person touches a menstruating woman, they will be unclean until the end of that day.
Even sitting on a bed belonging to a menstruating woman could make you unclean, as explained in Leviticus 15:23.
The word of God uses menstrual blood as a symbol of Guilt and wickedness, as mentioned in Ezekiel 36:17. In this scripture, the Lord expresses His disappointment in Israel.
Their sins were so grave that God compared their level of uncleanliness with menstrual impurity, as espoused severally in the book of Leviticus.
The Bible also talks about menstrual blood when discussing fertility. As indicated in Genesis 18:11, Sarah had reached menopause, meaning she could not have children.
The verse says that she no longer experienced the “way of women,” aka her menstrual period. That explains her scepticism about God’s promise to give her a biological child.
In Luke 8:43-46, Jesus encounters a woman who had bled for 12 years. That means that she was deemed ritually unclean and unapproachable for 12 years.
The woman was desperate for healing so she could reclaim her life and stop living like an outcast. That is why the woman was determined to touch Jesus’ garment.
What is the symbolic meaning of seeing menstrual blood in dreams?
Numerous scholars have tried to identify the symbolic meaning of menstrual blood appearing in dreams. The opinions of these intellectuals vary.
However, they all agree that paying attention to your emotions during and right after the dream is critical to interpreting the symbolism. The following are plausible symbolic meanings of menstrual blood in dreams.
New beginnings
Menstruation marks the beginning of a new reproductive cycle in the female body. People believe that period dreams signify a new chapter in one’s life.
If you subscribe to these beliefs, menstruation dreams suggest that you should be ready to embrace changes with a positive mindset.
Transition
In numerous ethnic groups, menstruation symbolizes growth, fertility, and purity. These cultures propose that menstruation dreams mean one is undergoing a period of transition.
According to these people, having a period dream is nature’s way of preparing you for a different season of your life. This could mean new parenthood, new relationships, or new opportunities.
Desire to have a child
In most cultures, menstruation signifies fertility or the desire to bring a new life into the world. People who spend millions fighting infertility might also have this dream.
In their case, a menstruation dream is believed to reveal a deep-set anxiety about being a new parent.
Danger
From a biological standpoint, menstruation comes when a woman is not pregnant but can still conceive. For women who are already pregnant, a menstruation dream is seen as a warning of impending danger.
Some say it means there is a high probability of miscarriage. In light of this, the pregnant lady needs to take on less responsibilities for the sake of their pregnancy.
Spiritual reasons why you are seeing menstrual blood in your dreams
Dreams about menstrual blood can be disturbing. That is why spirituality scholars have come up with numerous theories explaining why people see period blood in their dreams.
Experts in dream interpretation propose that period dreams can appear during certain seasons of your life. For women, wanting to be a mother could trigger such dreams.
Ladies who have endured embarrassing or painful ordeals due to menstruation are likely to interpret such dreams negatively.
Since menstruation represents fertility, some believe seeing it in your dreams is a good omen. This is great news if you are working on a big project or hoping for a promotion at work or in business.
For men, seeing menstrual blood in your dream is alleged to be a sign that something is deeply troubling you. Men do not have menstruation cycles, which makes period dreams even more confusing, and being that men have to handle lots of responsibility, it is not uncommon for some of them to have these dreams.
Additionally, spiritual enthusiasts purport that men have period dreams due to insecurities. This is said to happen more when a man’s masculinity is tested.
On a positive note, it is believed that menstrual dreams appear to men who need to appreciate their wives more. Wives and mothers usually do a lot to care for every member of a family.
People who trust in this theory suggest that menstrual dreams remind men that their partners need care, too. A gift, romantic dinner, or even a mini vacation would go a long way.
Biblical meanings of menstrual blood in dreams
Impurity
In the Bible, menstrual blood and other bodily discharges are considered impure. Not only was a woman considered unsanitary during her period, but she was also deemed ritually unclean.
As mentioned earlier, the book of Leviticus 15 explains these concepts in detail. To be considered ritually clean, a woman was required to wash herself in living water after menses were done.
An example of this is in 2 Samuel 11:2, where Bathsheba is documented taking a bath after her menstruation period was over. People coming into contact with a menstruating woman were also required to wash in living water.
Guilt
God used menstruation to illustrate the magnitude of Israel’s sins in Ezekiel 36:17. Based on this scripture, Israel had engaged in sinful activities that defiled the land God had given them.
In His eyes, God said that the Israelites were as unclean as a woman during her menstrual period. You see, God’s chosen people joined the pagan tribes in worshipping idols and making evil sacrifices.
Shame
In Biblical times, bodily discharges were viewed as unclean and embarrassing. Women were treated as outcasts during their periods. That is why the woman who bled for 12 years was in such a hurry to approach Jesus.
Due to her condition, she lived an isolated life of pain. According to Jewish law, she was not allowed into the temple during religious ceremonies.
For her to push through the crowd to get to Jesus means she had suffered long enough not to care if everyone else became “unclean” for having contact with her.
It is the same reason Rachel was permitted to continue sitting when Laban was searching everyone else in Genesis 31:33-35. Getting up while she was on her period would be shameful.
Fertility
In the book of 2 Samuel 11: 2-4, David encounters the beautiful Bathsheba while she is bathing. This scripture reveals that Basheba was in the process of cleaning herself after her menstruation period was over.
Some versions of the Bible refer to it as “monthly uncleanness.” She was ready to rejoin society and engage in sex. The Bible points this out because the woman conceives shortly after sleeping with David.
In their case, menstruation is a representation of fertility. Since